Donegal Senator Niall Blaney has been added to the Fianna Fail European election ticket for the Midlands North West.
Blaney had lost out on the party’s nomination to Barry Cowen at a selection convention in Westmeath at the beginning of February.
However, in a surprise move the party’s national constituencies committee confirmed today that it has added both Senator Blaney and Senator Lisa Chambers to the ticket
This now means that Fianna Fáil will run three candidates in the five-seat constituency ahead of the election on June 7.
Blaney came second to Mr Cowen by only 70 votes in the final vote among over 2,000 Fianna Fáil members in the vast constituency that runs from Donegal in the northwest down to Offaly in the midlands.
Mr Cowen, the former agriculture minister, won 894 votes in the first count compared to 803 for Mr Blaney, while the Mayo-based Ms Chambers came a distant third having won 570 votes.
After Ms Chambers was eliminated, the distribution of her votes saw Mr Cowen, a TD for Laois-Offaly, finish ahead of Mr Blaney by 1,140 votes to 1,070 votes.
The Fianna Fail party in Donegal had lobbied strongly to have Blaney’s name added to the ticket.
Commenting on the addition, Director of Elections, Minister Darragh O’Brien TD, said, “This is a very strong, ambitious ticket and represents the best of what Fianna Fáil offers, in the form of three highly committed, hard-working and able public representatives who are determined to fight for Ireland in Europe.
“This is also a very geographically well-balanced ticket, with the candidates strategically spread across a vast geographic constituency. Niall, Lisa and Barry bring unique and complimentary strengths and abilities to our ticket. I know they will individually and collectively work hard to maximise our vote and ensure that we are successful in June.
“I look forward to working with them as we bring our message of how much Europe matters to the people and communities of Midlands North West.”
